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Written by: E. George
Published June 22, 2024 @ 3:30 PM ET
Warning: The following report describes alleged violence against/neglect of animals.
BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. – A woman was arrested in Bartow County on May 10, 2024, after a witness reported finding multiple dogs suffering in deplorable conditions. The witness told the reporting officer that he had allowed the suspect, Sabrina Jeannine Brooks, to stay in a building on his lot for a few days when her trailer flooded, but it had been four months, and she has not left.
He said he noticed a foul odor emanating from the building, so he knocked on the door, but Brooks did not answer. When he opened the door, he immediately asked a neighbor to call 911 due to the pets’ horrific living conditions.
The officer observed six emaciated dogs stuffed into cages that were too small for their bodies. All six dogs appeared severely malnourished, with their spines, ribs, and hip bones visible.
The dogs had extremely long nails, and one of the smaller dogs appeared unable to stand. The bottoms of the cages were covered in urine and feces, and the dogs had no access to water or food.
The officer also spotted a cat; however, no one could locate the feline later for collection.
The floor of the building was littered with trash, old food, clothing, feces, and urine, and there was a five-gallon bucket filled with urine and feces. The structure lacked proper ventilation, making the air difficult to breathe.
Brooks arrived and told the officer she had rescued all the dogs. She said she had been “going through a hard time,” and she and the dogs “did not live like this before.”
She stated that she let the dogs out of their cages two-to-three times a day and fed them twice per day. She said she kept the bucket full of urine and feces because she was disabled and could not use the restroom anywhere else.
Bartow County Animal Control arrived, and one officer said that in her experience with the agency, this was one of the worst cases she had ever seen. The Animal Control officers took possession of the six dogs, and the police officer handcuffed and transported Brooks to the Bartow County Jail.
She faces six counts of animal cruelty. This case is pending.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On Friday, May 10, 2024, at 0910 hours I was dispatched to [10 BLOCK] Brown Farm Rd Lot [REDACTED], Cartersville in reference to a welfare check on the animals in the building on lot [REDACTED].
When I arrived on scene I met with [WITNESS #1], who lives in the camper on lot [REDACTED]. [WITNESS #1] advised he has allowed Sabrina Brooks to live in the building on his lot for the past four months. [WITNESS #1] advised that he initially only allowed Sabrina to stay for a few days due to the flooding of her trailer on lot [REDACTED], but she never left. [WITNESS #1] advised that he thought Sabrina had only 3 dogs in the building with her and started to think something was wrong because of an odor coming from the building. On Friday, May 10, 2024, he knocked on the building door to make contact with Sabrina. [WITNESS #1] advised Sabrina did not answer so he opened the building door to check on her. When he opened the door he asked a neighbor to call 911 due to the living conditions and conditions of the animals in the building.
I looked inside the building and witnessed old food, trash, clothes, feces, and urine covering the inside of the building. I witnessed a 5-gallon bucket full of what appeared to be a mixture of urine and feces. I also witnessed 6 dogs locked in cages that were too small for their bodies, with the bottom of all of the cages covered in dog urine and feces. None of the 6 dogs in the building had access to food or water and the building was not properly ventilated due to no windows or vents. Each dog appeared to be physically malnourished, as I was able to see the spine, ribs, and hip bones of each dog.
Each dog also had extremely long nails and it appeared that one of the smaller dogs could not stand. I also witnessed a cat walking around inside the building and was unable to locate the cat again. Video footage and pictures were captured of the building and of the animals with mine and Cpl Clonch’s body-worn camera. I then contacted Animal Control to be en route to take custody of the dogs.
I then spoke with Sabrina who arrived on scene shortly after I arrived. Sabrina advised she rescued all of the dogs located inside of the building. Sabrina advised she had been going through a hard time and that she and the dogs did not live like this before. Sabrina stated she allowed the dogs out of the cages 2 to 3 times a day and fed them 2 times a day. Sabrina advised there was a 5-gallon bucket of her urine and feces in the building because she was disabled so she could not use the restroom anywhere else.
[REDACTED] and [REDACTED] with Bartow County Animal Control arrived on scene. [REDACTED] stated in her experience with Animal Control, this case was one of the worst cases she had seen thus far. [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] took custody of all of the dogs that were in the building. Animal Control was not able to take custody of the cat due to not being able to locate it.
Due to the conditions of the dogs and the building Sabrina was placed under arrest for 6 counts of animal cruelty. Sabrina was then patted down for any weapons, drugs, and other contraband and placed in the back of my patrol vehicle. Sabrina was then transported to thee Bartow County Jail.
[End of Narrative]